Pope sends Cardinal Bertone with donation, prayers and the promise of his spiritual closeness to Peru

Vatican City, Aug 20, 2007 / 09:38 am (CNA).- The Vatican announced this morning that the Holy Father will send aid to those devastated by the earthquake that occurred on August 15th in the southwestern coastal region of Peru.

The donation is being made through the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. One of the missions entrusted to the Council is to assist the Pope in carrying out special initiatives in the field of humanitarian actions when disasters occur.

The papal aid mission will commence this coming week, when Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone will embark on a long-planned voyage to Peru to deliver a donation of $200,000.

Besides bringing monetary aid, the Vatican’s Secretary of State will also carry the spiritual closeness and prayers of the Holy Father with him, the statement said.

In addition, Pope Benedict XVI expressed the Universal Church’s solidarity with those who have lost their loved ones and those who have lost their property.

He called for “all of the faithful and organizations of aid in the Church to coordinate so that they could engage in every possible action of fraternal charity towards the affected populations, and to do so with respect for the locally defined priorities and in tune with the local Church.”